Malta became the 119th country to join the International Solar Alliance on Tuesday, the Ministry of External Affairs said.

The ISA is an alliance of more than 120 signatory countries that aims to reduce the dependence on non-renewable sources of energy like fossil fuels.

Permanent Secretary at the Maltese Foreign Ministry, Christopher Cutajar signed the ISA Framework Agreement on Tuesday.

The agreement was signed in the presence of Head of Depository and Joint Secretary (Economic Diplomacy) Abhishek Singh in the national capital.

India has pledged $1 million to the Poverty and Hunger Alleviation Fund established by India, Brazil, and South Africa (IBSA). The contribution, announced on Monday by India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj, underscores India's commitment to fostering cooperation and development among nations of the Global South.

Kamboj highlighted India's dedication to supporting the IBSA Fund, noting its transformative impact on millions of lives and its role in bolstering the ethos of South-South cooperation.

Established jointly in March 2004 and operational since 2006, the IBSA Facility for Poverty and Hunger Alleviation (IBSA Fund) aims to identify and implement replicable and scalable projects in developing countries, tailored to meet their national priorities while aligning with internationally agreed development goals.

India is making a remarkable presence at Gulfood 2024 in Dubai, UAE, as over 350 Indian companies gathered to showcase their diverse array of products.

This unprecedented turnout underscores India's burgeoning role as a global leader in the food supply industry. For years, India has been a trusted supplier of various food items to the United Arab Emirates, including grains, cereals, pulses, and more. Now, with such a massive presence at Gulfood, India is not just showcasing its culinary prowess but also exploring new avenues for trade in the UAE and beyond.

At the heart of India's representation is the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority, whose pavilion boasts over 70 exhibitors, from startups to MSMEs, offering a glimpse into India's diverse culinary landscape. The UAE has become India's third-largest trading partner, thanks to the surge in food exports, fuelled by recent agreements like the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, which has boosted trade by 16% in just one year. From fragrant spices to wholesome grains, India's offerings cater to a wide range of tastes in the UAE, paving the way for further growth in the domestic food industry.

In a ground-breaking moment for Indian science, Prof. Aditi Sen De has been awarded the prestigious G. D. Birla Award for Scientific Research for the year 2023.

The award, established in 1991, recognises exceptional scientific research conducted by Indian scientists below the age of 50.

Prof. Aditi Sen De, a distinguished physicist from the Harish-Chandra Research Institute in Prayagraj, has been honoured for her outstanding contributions to the field of Physics. Notably, she is the first female scientist to receive this esteemed award, marking a historic milestone in the award's illustrious history.

Born in Kolkata in 1974, Prof. Aditi Sen De earned her PhD in physics from the University of Gdansk, Poland. Her research, focused on the manipulation of quantum states and their nonclassical applications, has made significant strides in the development of quantum technologies.

Union Minister for Education and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday inaugurated the country's first Skill India Centre (SIC) here. Speaking on the occasion, he said the nation requires a skilled and competent workforce to propel its development journey forward in the 21st century.

He said the new-age and future skills are available at considerably higher cost in global markets.

Realizing this, the Centre has decided to democratize access to quality education and establish a level playing field for the aspiring youth, the Union minister said while addressing the youth at the inauguration of India's first Skill India Centre (SIC) here.

Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor was conferred France’s highest civilian honour, the Chevalier de la Legion d’ Honneur France, at an intimate ceremony in the French embassy in the national capital.

Mr. Tharoor was awarded the honour in August 2022, but formal conferring took place on Tuesday.

The Congress leader said that his relationship with France began during his stint in the United Nations and that he has always “nurtured a sense or profound respect for French democracy” as the land where “the people” first replaced “the king” as the nucleus of the nation.

Startek® (NYSE: SRT), a global customer experience (CX) solutions provider, has been recognized by Great Place To Work® India as one of India's Best Workplaces™ in IT & IT-BPM for the year 2023. The prestigious accolade is a testament to the Startek commitment to fostering a positive and inclusive work environment for its associates.

As a global authority on workplace culture, Great Place To Work has been studying employee experience and people practices across organizations for over three decades. Every year, more than 100 million employees from over 150 countries worldwide take the with Great Place To Work for assessment, benchmarking, and planning of actions to strengthen their workplace culture. In this year for India, based on a rigorous evaluation methodology, 100 organizations among India's Best Workplaces in IT & IT-BPM 2023 have been recognized.

International Mother Language Day, observed annually on February 21st, celebrates linguistic diversity and advocates for the preservation of languages worldwide. This day underscores the importance of linguistic and cultural heritage, particularly in safeguarding indigenous and minority languages.

International Mother Language Day 2024: According to the United Nations (UN), "International Mother Language Day, first proclaimed by UNESCO and later adopted by the UN General Assembly, underscores the role of languages in promoting inclusion and achieving Sustainable Development Goals." It is celebrated on 21st February every year.

The inaugural edition of The Kolkata French Film Festival was launched at Nandan on Friday. Organised jointly by the West Bengal government and the Alliance Française du Bengale, the festival will continue till February 24.

During the inaugural function, Bollywood actor Anil Kapoor, who was the chief guest, reminisced about his early days in Kolkata, expressing his affection for the city where he began his acting journey. He received a picture from Nicolas Facino, reminiscent of his first film shooting experience, and lauded the contributions of director and cinematographer Nimay Ghosh.

He said,”Kolkata means a lot to me because I started my career here. Kahan se Guzar Gaya was my first film, which was shot in 1980. This is one of the best cinema destinations and both France and Bengal have some of the best filmmakers.”

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on February 19 pledged his country's long-term engagement in Ukraine's reconstruction, calling it a future investment, as Japan stressed its commitment to supporting the war-torn country ahead of the two-year anniversary of Russia's invasion.

In his keynote speech at a conference Japan co-organised with the Ukrainian government and business organisations, Mr. Kishida said Japanese public and private cooperation will be a long-term partnership based on inclusivity, humanitarianism as well as technology and knowledge. More than 50 cooperation deals were signed by Japanese and Ukrainian government agencies and companies.

Mr. Kishida stressed the importance of investment across industries for the future of that country's development and ensuring that the support caters to Ukraine's needs.